Page 74 of El Malo

“Remember, Estrada,” Javier says to me, his eyes tender as he regards me. “He hurt you.”

I give him a clipped nod.

And then I turn, swinging the hammer violently through the air. It connects with Michael’s temple with a sickening sound.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Crunch.

Crunchcrunchcrunchcrunchcrunch.

Over and over and over again I swing my weapon.

Agent Daza is gone.

I am El Malo.

I’m lost to the darkness for seconds, minutes, hours, forever.

Warm, strong arms wrap around my middle and gently pull me away. Someone tugs the hammer from my grip. Another person offers me their black suit jacket. I’m numb as I stare at the now mutilated head of Agent Michael Stiner.

“Why did you fucking make me do that?” I scream at his unmoving corpse. “Why did you fucking make me do that?” I use his words against him—words he’s said to me before—but he doesn’t answer.

It’s over.

Javier scoops me up in his arms and carries me away from the carnage. We slide into the back of Marco Antonio’s Land Rover and he doesn’t say a word about the blood we’re staining his car with. I cling to Javier as we drive home.

I’m in a daze.

Drifting and drifting and drifting.

I don’t start to come out of it until I’m naked with my husband and standing in our massive shower. He dutifully washes me until the water runs clear. And then he holds me. Loud, ugly sobs rip from my chest and I can barely keep from collapsing to the floor.

“Shhh,” Javier croons against my hair. “Don’t cry, manzanita. He deserved it.”

“He did deserve it,” I agree, choking on my sob. “But she didn’t.”

His black brows furl together. “Rosa Daza.”

“She died. Rosa Daza is dead.”

He smiles at me, his dimple forming. “No, mi amor. You are wrong. She didn’t die,” he murmurs as he kisses my forehead. “She was reinvented. Born from the ashes. My sweet Rosa found her fire again and she blazes brighter than any sun in this universe.” His palms find my belly. “And she’s carrying my whole world.”

I thread my fingers with his and nod. “Te amo, Sr. Estrada.” I love you, Mr. Estrada.

“Yo también te amo, mi dulce y fogosa esposa.” I love you too, my sweet, fiery wife.